Heavy rains cause local flooding

Friday, May 1, 2009

Photo by David Jenkins, Staff

Motorists brave the high water on South Kingshighway on Thursday evening as a heavy rain dumped four inches on Sikeston. A short time after this photo was taken, officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety closed the portion of the roadway due to the high water. Several streets in Sikeston were reported to be flooded as several motorists were stranded in the high water. A funnel cloud was reportedly spotted north of Morehouse at just before 5 p.m. as heavy rains fell for several hours. As of 8 a.m. today, the Sikeston Power Plant, which serves as an official recording station for the National Weather Service, recorded 3.51 inches of rainfall in the 24-hour period. A flash flood watch is in effect for the area through Monday. Additional rainfall amounts of two to 5 inches will be common with higher amounts possible, NWS said.

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